Anybody in the SEO world knows Google is updating their algorithm regularly. The changes they make may or may not have an impact on your ranking. It depends on how well you’ve prepared and what type of SEO strategy you’ve already deployed on your website.
With Core Web Vitals coming out in May 2021, it’s time to start figuring out what this is and what it will mean for you. Core Web Vitals will be a new set of ranking factors you will need to be aware of if you want to gain a high ranking in the Google search engine.
Google announced in November 2020 that they are giving webmasters about six months to get prepared for the Core Web Vitals ranking factors. This set of ranking factors are also known as the page experience ranking signals and will change the way the Google algorithm ranks websites.
What Are the Core Web Vitals?
Site performance and user experience metrics, the Core Web Vitals will look at several factors including page stability, interactivity, and page load time. Instead of focusing on how quickly your website loads, these ranking factors will focus on how quickly a user can start using your website.
The Core Web Vitals fall under the broader category of Page Experience metrics, which includes other signals, such as safe browsing, HTTPS, and pop-ups.
These new ranking signals have nothing to do with the content on the page. They are designed around the usability of the pages and the navigation experience. Google aims to rank more effective and efficient pages higher delivering a better user experience.
3 Main Metrics of Core Web Vitals
1. First Input Delay (FID)
The First Input Delay is a metric measuring the interactivity of your website. It measures the amount of time it takes from the website starting to load until a user can interact with the page. The interaction might be filling out a form, clicking a link, or scrolling.
2. Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
Another part of the Core Web Vitals, LCP looks at the site loading time. Anything longer than 2.5 seconds is considered slow and if it takes more than 4 seconds, it’s a major issue.
3. Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
Have you ever gone to a web page and accidentally clicked something you didn’t mean to because the page shifted? This is exactly what CLS is targeting. Google wants to avoid the layout shifts because they lead to a poor user experience. CLS will apply more to mobile devices as layout shifts happen more on these devices than on desktop or laptop computers.
What do Core Web Vitals Mean for Your Business?
When it comes to ranking higher in the search results, Core Web Vitals will become a rather large part of your SEO plan. Whether you’re trying to maintain page rank or gain it, you will need to address these ranking factors.
Google is placing a large priority on UX, especially for those using mobile devices. Make sure your website provides an excellent user experience and address the Core Web Vitals before May 2021 or you might lose your page rank.
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